Category: music

10 Underrated Christmas Songs

justburkhardt

Wow, I really can’t believe it’s been nearly two years since I last blogged, and A LOT has happened since February of 2022 both personally and professionally. Currently, I’m recovering from another back surgery so I thought now would be a good time to start writing again while recovering and waiting for my next professional adventure. And since it’s the holidays, why not a top 10 Christmas song list? So if you’re tired of the same songs that seemingly get played everywhere each year, give the list below a listen!

  1. “Here It Is Christmastime” by Kevin Bacon & the Old 97’s – In November 2022, Disney+ released a 42-minute Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special which was so much more fun than I expected it to be. The special has become a new yearly tradition for me, & the soundtrack is incredible (which is to be expected from Guardians). Rhett Miller & the Old 97’s are featured in the movie as a band called Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen, & their re-recording of their song “Here It Is Christmastime” alongside Kevin Bacon (who stars as himself in the movie) is incredible & has quickly become one of my favorite Christmas songs.

2. “Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End” by The Darkness – Released 20 years ago in 2003, this song is exactly what you’d expect from The Darkness: Justin Hawkins’s amazing falsetto, some great guitar playing, & some hilarious double entendres. This fall, I was able to see The Darkness live on the 20th-anniversary tour of their debut album Permission to Land, & they’re still as incredible as ever & don’t nearly get the love they deserve as a band.

3. “Fruitcake” by Fred Schneider & the Superions – This song isn’t your average Christmas song, but you should expect nothing less from the B-52’s Fred Schneider. It’s weird, it’s fun, it’s got an incredible bassline, and it’s just one of those songs that grows on you. When I first heard it, I honestly wasn’t sure if I liked it or not, but then I caught myself randomly saying “It’s fruitcake!”

4. “Come on! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” by Sufjan Stevens – Indie musician Sufjan Stevens has released a lot of traditional Christmas music, but my favorite is one of his originals. It’s a joyous tune that continues to build as the song goes on. It’s also quirky with a timeless feel, and if you enjoy it, I would suggest checking out Sufjan’s vast Christmas discography.

5. “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee – Yes you’ve heard Carol of the Bells before, but I’m certain that you’ve never heard it arranged/produced like this. Out of all the versions of this song that I’ve heard i my lifetime, indie pop duo the bird and the bee’s version is my absolute favorite & I think it’ll be one of yours too.

6. “Bringin’ Back Christmas” – Ryan Reynolds – I could almost include every song from Apple TV’s 2022 musical Spirited starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, but as a public relations guy, this is my favorite Christmas tune from the movie (sidenote: I think Good Afternoon is the best overall song from the film, but it’s not really a Christmas song per se). The movie/soundtrack suffers in popularity a bit due to the film being on a streaming platform that not many people subscribe to.

7. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hannah Waddingham featuring Phil Dunster & the Fabolous Lounge Singers – Another Apple TV song? Yup, sorry! If you’re a fan of either Ted Lasso or Game of Thrones, I’m sure by now you know that Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca/Septa Unella) is an incredible singer, but did you know that Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso) can sing as well? This holiday special should be much bigger news, & there’s a lot of good stuff on Apple TV.

8. “Love This Christmas” by Rick Astley – No trolling here, Rick Astley released a true Christmas bop back in 2020 and I’m really surprised that I don’t hear this song more often than I do. It’s a great new holiday classic that should be added to playlists across the globe, and Rick’s timeless voice is as strong as it’s ever been!

9. “How Christmas Is Supposed To Be” by Gary Barlow featuring Sheridan Smith – You may know Gary as the lead singer of legendary British pop group Take That, but his first solo Christmas album released in 2021 featured this original song that also deserves to be an instant classic. Barlow & Smith’s voices go so well together in this refreshing holiday pop song.

10. “Christmas Dance” by Darren Criss – You likely know Darren from either Glee or American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and in 2021 he released his first Christmas album featuring this catchy new holiday tune. From TV to Broadway, Darren is a very talented entertainer and this song should also be included on your annual playlist going forward.

Honorable Mention: “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues – Shane MacGowan’s recent passing is what got me thinking about this list. I’ve always been a huge fan of the band and this song, but I felt that it never truly got the wide mainstream love that it deserved. It’s listed here in honorable mention because I think with Shane’s passing it’ll get a staying boost in popularity (in addition to it being covered by Jason and Travis Kelce in this year’s Philly Special Christmas album)

I wanna rock and roll all nite……

justburkhardt

Almost exactly one year ago, I found out the job that I had accepted a mere four months earlier was being dissolved due to COVID-19 related budget cuts. It was a total gut-punch because I didn’t see it coming especially since it was a newly created role that was supposed to be important for the future of the company. The thing that I’ve now come to realize is that COVID or not, it clearly wasn’t the job/company for me, but that realization still hasn’t made this last year of unemployment any easier. And in regards to this past year, to quote the Grateful Dead, “What a long, strange trip it’s been!”.

Dealing with the loss of your job is one thing, but losing it during a pandemic is a totally different monster. I had absolutely no idea what to expect in terms of just how long I’d be out of work. For the first 4-5 months, there was really just so much uncertainty that very few public relations/communications jobs were actually being posted. It was during this time that I made a promise to myself when it came to my next job, and that promise was to not settle for something that I wouldn’t absolutely love, both professionally and personally. I knew that while this was an unexpected period of unemployment, it was also an unexpected chance to get back to loving what I do and who I work for.   

When I first really started applying to jobs, I was using my long-form curriculum vitae (CV) and I quickly realized that it was something I needed to change. As a writer, I still love my long-form CV, but I knew that most hiring managers during COVID weren’t going to spend the time reading anyone’s four-page CV. So I turned my CV into a two-page PDF resume (purple of course!) and that’s when the floodgates really started to open in terms of phone calls and interviews.

During this time, I spoke with a lot of great people at a lot of different interesting companies, but there was always just something missing with each job. There were some great opportunities presented to me, but none of them was the perfect fit that I was searching for. For me, they just weren’t the kind of jobs that would spark a deeper sense of professional and personal satisfaction. They also didn’t feel like the place where I could finally plant my roots and grow, which was also really important to me. But then I got a phone call that would change everything. 

Now while I was unemployed, I did get to take two incredible road trips (which I’ve written about in previous posts) that I would have never been able to do while I was working at my previous job. Those two trips, along with the support of my incredible wife, truly kept me going through this period of time. The second of those trips was to Prince’s Paisley Park, which was one of the most incredible experiences that I’ve ever had. I didn’t need a trip to Paisley Park to reassure me that music is a huge, meaningful part of my life, but it also didn’t hurt. I think subconsciously that I knew that live music (and fun events) once again had to play some part in my next professional journey…..So now back to that phone call.  

 I literally knew from my first phone call with the team at Hard Rock Atlantic City that it was exactly where I wanted and needed to be. When the position was offered to me, I was so happy that I was essentially speechless on the phone (which if you’ve ever met me in person, you’ll know is rarer than winning the lottery). So I’m beyond excited to announce that starting this May, I will officially be Hard Rock Atlantic City’s new Public Relations Manager!  

 I’ve been a fan of the Hard Rock brand and Hard Rock AC for years, so it’s truly incredible that I’m now the newest member of the band. I can’t wait to hit the ground running and play a role in all the incredible events that Hard Rock Atlantic City has to offer. I hope that you’ll all make a trip to Atlantic City and check them out soon as well!   

Now that I’m no longer looking for work, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me this past year. There are way too many people to name here, but I just want you all to know that every LinkedIn/Facebook/Text message or phone call was greatly appreciated. I was given some incredible professional advice and support over the past year, and I do hope that I’m able to pay that forward in the future. And for all of you who were affected by COVID and are still out of work, just know that your time is coming soon as well. I know at times that it is impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but trust me when I say that better days are ahead. I’ve been there, and I’m living proof of that, so just keep the faith.

Hard Rock Atlantic City also has some pretty incredible Prince memorabilia, so I obviously had to include some photos of it at the end of this article. The photos in order are: Prince’s Lovesexy outfit from the 1988 Grammys, a red lace bib insert he wore during the Purple Rain tour, and one of his iconic custom cloud guitars. I’m also pretty excited that I get to walk by them every day at work!

It’s Dark & Hell is Hot

justburkhardt

Legendary rapper (and actor) Earl Simmons, better known as DMX, passed away Friday April 9th, 2021. He was a legend of his craft and at one point my favorite rapper, so I felt compeled to write a few words about him.

Thanks to two older brothers, I listened to hip-hop music at a very young age. While I listened to a lot of my brothers’ music, it was DMX who felt like MY first real hip-hop superstar. His debut album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot came out right before the summer of 1998 and it quickly became 12-year-old Justin’s album of the summer. I played that album on my Discman almost my entire trip to Cape May that summer, so of course when I was on the Wildwood boardwalk and saw a shirt that simply read “DMX – It’s Dark & Hell is Hot” I just had to buy it. Little did I know that a few months later this shirt would have me sent home from school because of its explicit lyrics. I went to a very diverse public school in Allentown, PA and I found it absurd then and even more so now as an adult.

In March of 2000, DMX and his Ruff Ryders Entertainment labelmates’ tour with Cash Money Records (Juvenile, Lil Wayne, BG, Big Tymers) came to Philadelphia and I begged my mom to take me. None of my friends’ parents would let them go to such a “dangerous” concert, so as a 14-year old I went to this show alone while my mom and her boyfriend hung out in the city. It was an incredible experience, and 21 years later I still have the Ruff Ryders beanie that I bought at the show. I was so into DMX during this time that I bought his first 6 albums on the day that they came out and would wind up buying other artists like DJ Clue and Dragon’s albums just becuase DMX was on a song or two.

However, as I got older, I started to enjoy other hip-hop acts much more than DMX. I think that part of my maturity process meant that songs with super violent, aggressive, and even homophobic lyrics honestly just didn’t interest me as much anymore. DMX was an imperfect human and it really showed on his albums. You could have a song like “Where the hood at?” which features extremely homophobic lyrics like “How you gonna explain f*cking a man? Even if we squashed the beef I ain’t touching your hand.” followed by a heartfelt prayer to god a few songs later. Also, while DMX has taken a lot of heat in the past for his homophobic lyrics, he also has tons of lyrics that could be considered very homoerotic including a line a few verses later in “Where the hood at?” where he talks about one man holding his private parts while another man performs oral sex. DMX was a talented yet extremely complicated artist.

DMX’s lyrics across his career are full of contractions and imperfections. He was a self-proclaimed religious child of god who committed a bible’s worth of sins. He was a loving, fun human being filled with incredible anger stemming from terrible childhood trauma. He knew that addiction was a terrible thing but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t escape those demons which ultimately cost him his life. When it comes to celebrities, DMX was truly as “real” as they come and that’s what made him so popular. He was an honest man with just as many faults as you and I, and he wore his emotions on his sleeve. For a period of time, he was the top dog in hip-hop and he brought a level of intensity to the genre not seen before. Even though I still don’t listen to his music as much as I used to, when a song of his pops up on a playlist or in my car, I’m still taken back to a very specific period of time and filled with nostalgia. Rest in peace DMX

Why Computer Purple?

justburkhardt

Today, April 21st 2020 marks the four year anniversary of the death of the greatest musician to ever walk the face of this earth, Prince Rogers Nelson.

For those who don’t know, he is also the inspiration for the name of this website. His song “Computer Blue” off the Purple Rain soundtrack is one of my favorite Prince songs. If you’ve never listened to it, do so today in his honor because it features one of his best guitar solos & ahead of its time drum programming. Purple also was Prince’s color, and it’s also my favorite as well (It doesn’t hurt that I’m also a Lakers fan!). So that’s how the name Computer Purple came to be!

Prince’s music has always been a shining light through any sort of darkness that life has brought me. When my mom passed away, Prince was there. If I needed to cry, I put on “Sometimes It Snows in April”. If I wanted to laugh I’d put on “Batdance”. Prince’s music has always been there to help with any sort of emotion that I was feeling or needed. From sad, gut-wrenching lyrics to happy pop records, his genre-less discography truly has something for everyone and every mood.

About a year before Prince passed away, he announced he was holding a Rally 4 Peace in Baltimore, Maryland to benefit Baltimore-based youth charities in the wake of the controversial death of Freddie Gray. I knew that I had to get down there to see this show, so I got a ticket and spent the day alone in Baltimore preparing for what would wind up being the best concert that I’ve ever been to.

Prince played for what seemed like forever (he had four encores) and brought out special guests including Miguel, Estelle, and Doug E. Fresh. If you’ve ever attended a Prince show, you know that going to one was like attending spiritual service with strangers who would quickly become friends. I spoke with easily 50-100 people that night that just wanted to share their stories about what Prince and his music meant to them, how many times they’ve seen him, and more.

I never would have guessed that was the last time I would be able to see him live. Prince had a very strict “No Camera” policy which was being enforced throughout the show, but I did manage to get one very quick/blurry photo (see below). While I selfishly would have loved to have more photos/videos of the show, I do understand the experience that Prince was hoping everyone would get to enjoy without their phones. I remember it like it was yesterday, and I’m sad that he’s not around to experience it again.

“We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die” – Justin Timberlake

“When I saw Prince do the Super Bowl, and how he conducted not just the people but the rain. I thought to myself that’s God’s child” – Cindy Lauper

“Prince is king to me” – Robyn

“He was and is our #1 idol. Without him we would have never picked up instruments, started writing songs, or become a band. He is and will always be the most inspiring musician in our lives.” – Haim

“He was singular in his music. He was his own genre ” – Questlove

“I was watching the greatest living performer known to man sing my song to 100 million people as if it were his own (and, it goes without saying, much better than I ever could)….. It is my life’s greatest compliment.” – Dave Grohl

Nothing Compares to Prince and tonight CBS is honoring him with a tribute concert that I highly suggest checking out. The Foo Fighters, Beck, John Legend, Gary Clark Jr, Chris Martin & more will all be paying tribute to the most talented musician that we’ve ever seen.

Rest in Peace Prince – U R Missed!